tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78436712156412934972024-02-19T20:18:31.317+05:30CEREBRAL ERUPTIONRandom Ramblings of a Weird WomanShuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-81871219117171998412009-05-26T13:50:00.005+05:302009-05-26T15:14:40.948+05:30The Great Indian Self-Destructive SyndromeFunny bunch of people we have in this country. A shoot-out in a gurudwara in Vienna is enough to get them burning buses, hurting their own neighbors, stopping trains and destroying public property. This is not the first time when Indians have retorted with destruction to events taking place in random places on the globe.Only this time, I happen to be at the midst of it - the city is under curfew and all my favorite hang-out places are probably seeing fire and blood. I can't help but wonder about the origins of these self-destructive tendencies.At times (more often than not), the protesters/mobbers/rioters have little clue about what they are trying to express. Who are they exactly protesting against? Aren't they totally missing the point?<br /><br />I guess the "great Indian self-destruction syndrome" (it should officially be a disease) dates back to the time when freedom fighters protested against the colonial rulers by damaging the government property and public facilities as a sign of rejection. If it is so, will someone go tell these simpletons that the Brits left more than half a century ago and the property they are damaging now is very much their own? In fact, they even pay taxes for its maintenance! Such events are just examples of how we as a nation are driven by a herd mentality. The masses are for all practical purposes, incapable of independent thinking, logical reasoning and good social sense. We do what others do (follow religion), like what others like (Shahrukh Khan) and are crazy about what others are crazy about (cricket).A very minuscule section of our national population actually use what they have in their top shelves and think for themselves (and are we grateful for that!).<br /><br />Does it ultimately boil down to education (not literacy, education)?Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-86138409553771196372009-05-26T10:56:00.004+05:302009-05-26T16:07:42.033+05:30Quotable Quotes From A Cricket HaterIPL is over but the spastics are still splashed over all channels except cartoon network (which is incidentally their rightful place). I realized this when I was trying to catch up on the riots taking place in my own city and the cyclone in Kolkata. C'mon guys, does that pathetic excuse of a game really score over issues of national importance.<br /><br />More out of irritation that anger, I am compelled to jot some "quotable quotes" about cricket, the assholes who play the game and millions of retards who watch the no-brainer at the edge of their seats with their mouths gaping open.<br /><br />1. Cricket is not divine pursuit; it is not even a game.<br /><br />2. Cricket is the bastard child left behind after the Brits were done raping our country.<br /><br />3. Cricket is eleven men with no balls running after one ball, catching it and then throwing it away.<br /><br />4. It is no big deal if a jerk hits a ball and runs from one post to another like a banshee. And the crowd cheers.....<br /><br />5."We won!!" No you didn't win. Nobody wins anything sitting on a couch eating popcorn and drinking beer. You just lost some really precious time and a lot of gray cells.<br /><br />6. Cricket is too sissy to be manly, too dumb to be feminine. I have yet to come across eunuchs who play cricket.<br /><br />7. If your Facebook status message reeks of cricket updates, the other areas of your life probably need a lot more attention.<br /><br />8. Its just a run...what's there to be so worked-up about?<br /><br />9.Stop watching cricket - get a life!<br /><br />10. The insect is prettier/ smarter/ more productive than the game.Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-9887956598554332832009-05-22T11:26:00.000+05:302009-05-22T11:27:33.510+05:30From My Past Relationships I Have Learnt....1.Nice guys are close to extinction!!<br /><br />2.TO ERR IS MALE N TO FORGIVE IS DOWNRIGHT STUPID!<br /><br />3. You can still be friends even after an ugly break-up.<br /><br />4. Try not to handle more than one dude at a tym..its messy and lands u in trouble.<br /><br />5. A dog is better than a man...cuter, easy to train, loyal and best of all..not fond of cricket!Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-37231635117795092002009-05-04T08:55:00.008+05:302009-05-04T16:39:35.693+05:30In Defence of Slitheren....It pains me to see the attitude that most people have towards snakes; the most common notion being - "You see a snake, you kill it". I mean, what did the poor slitherer ever do to us? Fear almost always stems from ignorance. We are scared of snakes because we don't understand them. Yes, some of them are poisonous enough to wipe out a village and yes, some people may find them mean and slimy but that is still not enough reason to "kill" them.Do you even realize how many venomous (metaphorically of course), mean and slimy people you are surrounded with? Do you kill them just because you don't like them? And yeah, they don't even protect your crops from rodents!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v133/149/29/585372826/n585372826_339719_8706.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 453px; height: 604px;" src="http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v133/149/29/585372826/n585372826_339719_8706.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Snakes in reality are extremely gentle and timid creatures, just that they command oodles of respect from humans. I fell in love with snakes the first time I held one in my arms and felt weirdly tuned in to its body language. You gotta hold a snake the way IT likes to be held and not the way YOU would like to hold it. That element of respect makes snakes the magnificent creatures that they are.When you hold a snake, you have to leave it free enough to curl around you otherwise they get kinda edgy. If they click with you, they can be extremely friendly (even cuddly) and easy to handle. However, poisonous ones have to be held slightly above the neck. My very first 'body-contact' encounter with a snake was with two pythons and their hatchings. They did not feel the slightest bit intimidated; rather,as cold-blooded creatures, they seemed to enjoy the warmth of a mammalian body.<br /><br />Some idiots may argue on behalf of the many people who have died of snake bites. Its not the snake's fault! Most snake bites happen in wilderness which is supposed to be THEIR territory, not ours. When you invade someone's space, you do so at your own risk and then, you have no right to complain if you are driven out! If snakes happen to wander into human settlements, it is only because we have not left enough wilderness for them to dwell in peace. A snake will never harm a human unless it is gravely threatened. When faced by a bigger animal, its first instinct is to escape. However, if it is cornered, it has only its venom for self-defense.Then too, it issues multiple warnings by hissing and spatting before going in for the final strike. Can you blame a poor creature for that? Why don't people back off when they see a snake? Why do they have to raise hell and summon a crowd armed with sticks? What is a snake supposed to do when it is faced by an armed mob?<br /><br />Snakes are beautiful animals and vital to the ecosystem.Once we understand that snakes are as scared of us than we are of them (if not more), the two species may be able to find themselves on the same page. Thats the reason I want to train professionally as a snake-handler so that I can do my bit to spread awareness and help snakes in distress. Hail Slitheren!Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-3824938199031480452009-05-02T11:22:00.004+05:302009-05-02T11:28:49.786+05:30A Test Assignment That Was Fun<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdjFeqQLnimVmz9uAIkq056CUPvGUh8LR6guBAEShjWVGva5I3OXbJedjSmWHEMhyZ2ttp-QjRCmCLcumwHHObhyphenhyphenf-NOOfOHIJzgJmJuudORK2s7YhC-To4RwP9vDlwb0AzvhAmmeY3s/s1600-h/clip_image002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 203px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdjFeqQLnimVmz9uAIkq056CUPvGUh8LR6guBAEShjWVGva5I3OXbJedjSmWHEMhyZ2ttp-QjRCmCLcumwHHObhyphenhyphenf-NOOfOHIJzgJmJuudORK2s7YhC-To4RwP9vDlwb0AzvhAmmeY3s/s320/clip_image002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331101865648154258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZNq3e1c6q-Ea9QyKZb6VCmQB0fwiokKIFhqJas5ePxTHgQBBz5wc_vkd7LzNq0Lv0_9eB_qHxPfo1vGmcSAH2khXeHPAxIO73ULnik8FOVGZzk4wjZskQl7Jz-ms4CZAzxHYZLiv2y4/s1600-h/clip_image002.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 216px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiZNq3e1c6q-Ea9QyKZb6VCmQB0fwiokKIFhqJas5ePxTHgQBBz5wc_vkd7LzNq0Lv0_9eB_qHxPfo1vGmcSAH2khXeHPAxIO73ULnik8FOVGZzk4wjZskQl7Jz-ms4CZAzxHYZLiv2y4/s320/clip_image002.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331101681092871778" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">In not more than 250-300 words, create a short story that connects the two pictures. You may interpret and present the nature of connection between these two pictures according to your understanding.<br /></span><br /> <br /> <br />This was not the first time Alex and I had fought. As children, we had got into a tussle over the silliest of things but we always made-up before our moms gave us the dinner call. But today it was different – we were no longer innocent seven year olds who could forgive and forget in a jiffy. We had grown into two egotistical twenty-something’s who would rather disown an age-old friend than apologize. I knew he had hurt me but I could not allow myself to let go of the beautiful memories that we shared. As we stood detached on the ruins that had once been our favorite hang-out spot, I reminisced how we used to steal colorful, sugar-laden lollypops from the cabinet and hide in the ruins to gorge on them. Maybe this sticky-sweet friendship resulted from eating too many sticky-sweet lollies. For us, slurping on lollypops was a way to celebrate, to rejoice in each other’s company, to end an argument or to simply pass time. But that was then – we had left our child-like innocence far behind us. <br /><br />Today, as we stood together at our secret hide-out, there was a deafening silence between us. The rustic, defragmented walls of the iconic structure now aptly represented the aura between us. Maybe like the ruins, our friendship had failed to stand the test of time. As I stared across the green grasslands, I saw something bright in my field of vision. It was Alex’s hand and it held a beautiful bundle of colorful lollypops! Maybe going back in time wasn’t so difficult at all…Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-57576038857048538782009-04-20T12:55:00.003+05:302009-04-20T13:27:00.974+05:30Shallow, Shallow WorldEver wondered how shallow and vain we humans tend to get? How we tend to judge and subsequently snub people who we think are not as smart/pretty/rich/successful as we are? I can bet how most of us are nauseated by the overload of "fairness creams" ads that feel like a gritty piece of gravel when you're gorging on your fave Biryani.<br /><br />Why has our idea of beauty narrowed down to how fairer/thinner/taller we can get? Whatever happened to the good ol' heart, a sense of humor, intellect, strength of character and well-nurtured talent? As a list down the virtues, I realize how bookish and other-wordly they sound now. It is perfectly OK for our generation to reject a perfectly nice person just because he/she does not meet the checklist of perfect complexion ( no, this does not imply clear, healthy skin but "fair" even if the rest of the package looks and behaves like a stinkin' garbage can), height, weight and other stuff that's not likely to last for another decade. This, let me clarify, is not a random, thoughtless statement and neither is it an all-encompassing one. I see people around me every moment who are completely obsessed with the way they look and they are cruelly critical of others who don't care a hoot about what they are wearing with what and how their hair is not perfectly framing their face to accentuate their features.<br /><br />Sure its great to be well groomed and nicely turned out but is it all that is there to life? Doesn't it take a small bit of life away from you if you refuse to open the car window when its cool and breezy outside for the fear of ruining your hairdo? Aren't you turning your back on small pleasures by refusing to eat a chocolate pie you so damn love coz you're scared it will land up on your butt? Don't you feel ugly staring at the mirror when there are larger and more important things waiting for your attention? Don't you feel disgusting inside when a close friend unloads his/her worries on you and all you can think of is what you should wear to the party tonight?<br /><br />I might be wrong (though I hope I am not) but in my opinion, people who are all about themselves are somewhere very insecure inside. They know they are ugly and they have little to offer other than branded clothes and a chiselled body. The make-up and high-maintainance haidos are facades which they use to hide the hollowness within themselves. Why are they so scared of showing their real selves to the world? Why do they feel like death if someone saw them before they got out of bed? I am compelled to form an opinion because of late, I have been coming across too many people who do not believe in keeping it real.Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-66992371886501158262009-04-16T10:58:00.007+05:302009-04-18T09:22:14.072+05:3025 Random Things About Me1. I can cuddle a python (I have a soft corner for reptiles) but I'm shit scared of dead cockroaches.<br />2. When I'm tired, uncomfortable, stressed or irritated, I darken my room and light an incense stick to sooth my senses.<br />3. Tube lights (or any other harsh white lights) give me a gritty "sandpaper on the wall" feeling and I switch them on only when a guest insists and that too, at the expense of my inner peace. I totally dig zero watt yellow bulbs or candles.<br />4. If I ever decide to undergo plastic surgery, I would get my face reduced to half its size.<br />5. I'm a hard-core believer in karma and how life comes in a full circle. I also believe that energy (life) is recycled across the universe and that's why no-one really "dies".<br />6. I'm a sucker for chaat and churans like imli golis, anardana golis, fatafat and other smacky stuff - can't have enough of it!<br />7. I find physical and personality quirks attractive. Normal and perfect does not interest me at all.<br />8. An animal's company can take all my blues away.<br />9. People are often scandalized by my words and actions - I secretely enjoy it.<br />10. My fave attire is a pair of men's shorts , a relaxed tee and flip-flops/crocs.<br />11. I am addicted to lip balm (fruity ones) and have to moisturize my hands every time I touch something dusty....yes, I do have OCD.<br />12. I don't have an explanation for this, but I involuntarily tend to loath things that have a mass following. Examples: Cricket, Shahrukh Khan, poker straight hair with blond streaks, skinny jeans, religion (all of 'em), materialism, an obsession with making babies....<br />13. I share my home with one husband, six pigeons and two tortoises.<br />14. I have had babysitters from Pakistan, Egypt, Czechoslovakia, Bangladesh, Iran, Syria, Phillipines and Sudan but it was finally an Indian who agreed to keep me for more than a week.<br />15. I can't drink anything with fizz or anything that is hot. I eat my food when it's room temperature and I love organic drinks like coconut water, kokum, aam panna, buttermilk, sol kadi, C2H5OH etc...<br />16. I pass most of my free time day-dreaming and making up things in my mind.<br />17. I feel uncomfortable talking on the phone...I prefer mailing or chatting. It might be worth mentioning that there used to be a time when I could talk all night on the phone.<br />18. Muscular men put me off. And so do small, thin papery ears (did I mention that I have an ear fetish?)<br />19. I believe traveling can teach you stuff that no book/school can.<br />20. I live my life on very simple terms...that's probably why I haven't experienced negative emotions like stress, depression, anxiety and sadness in a long while.<br />21. If I could have only one thing in my life, it would be FREEDOM - can't think of living without it!!<br />22. I am a full-time optometrist turned full-time writer - and very proud of the transition.<br />23. I hate it when people gift me flowers.<br />24. I may come across as a party animal but I am a very family oriented person who loves to spend time at home.<br />25. I 'm permanently happy coz I'm always optimistic and I think nothing is big or important enough to fret over..we're just an insignificant part in the larger scheme of things.Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-89597411700611307592009-04-15T10:56:00.005+05:302009-04-15T11:36:27.831+05:30Indian Men - I Tell You!What's with these Indian men, I don't understand. When they are young, single and ready to mingle, they totally dig hot chicks ( the ones who rank high on the fashion meter, are avid party goers, enjoy their cocktails, don't hold back from hurling a certain hindi swear word or two at lecherous uncles and who can while the night away driving around with a random guy on a mobike). From what I can gather, they like hanging around with a bindaas babe because they get to do all the "guy things" like drinking, smoking, talking dirty and using foul language without feeling awkward or stared upon. Then, out of the blue, they settle with a demure damsel in distress who would avoid you like the AIDS if you just offer her a drag from your fag ( disclaimer: I do NOT look down upon people who do not drink/smoke/abuse but I DO look down upon people who look down upon smokers/drinkers/abusers).<br /><br />Believe me, it has happened to me quite a number of times (the dirty looks from familiar women) even though I don't practice any of the above mentioned "sins" to a significant degree but to tell you the truth, I'm no miss goody two shoes either! I do have my sexy, naughty, bitchy moments every now and then.<br /><br />Coming back to the point of typical Indian men, why do they choose the perennially salwar kameez clad distressed damsel for matrimony when they have been hanging around with the bindaas siren babe all their years. The funny part is yet to come - why after marrying the distressed damsel do they still yearn for the bindaas babe and stare/make a pass at her when the opportunity arises? Why do they not stare/make a pass at other distressed damsels who their friends married? Why do they hide their smoking/drinking/porn watching habits from their new wife when they had been doing it all along with their girlfriends? Why don't they marry a girl who could give them company at the bar, watch a porn flick and maybe enjoy a fag when its cold and rainy? Wouldn't that in a way prevent them from going overboard with any of these vices? Do they feel that such a girl would be bad at running the house or set a bad example as a parent? Are they insecure that a bold, confident girl would invite a lot of attention from other males?<br /><br />I know, my thoughts may seem baseless and even shallow - they just popped up out of nowhere. Actually not really out of nowhere - lately I have seen many of my male acquantainces doing the same. The phenomenon really beats me. Can anyone (preferably an Indian male) shed any light on this?Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-71103091908784479892009-03-25T09:32:00.003+05:302009-03-25T19:18:33.185+05:30Crazy MondayIts been so long since I typed my mind out ...so much so that I almost forgot that I have a blog. Well, quite frankly there was nothing extraordinary happening anyways. When things are humdrum and ...well normal, there's always a thing called impulse that can get things moving. Not that it was a life-altering experience, but I had a pretty crazy (and rather spiritually liberating) moment this Monday.<br /><br />There was this Felix the Cat T-shirt I had my heart on but hubby pooh-poohed it for being silly and blah. I thought it was silly-cute or cutely silly...whateva! I would have had another torturous day at the dentist with a masked monster clinking-clanking steely instruments in my mouth if it was not for the turn I took for the market. I got my Felix the Cat and was quite happy and content with life when I happened to walk past this sidey jeweler shop. I have absolutely no idea what ran through my head and within minutes I found myself sitting on a chair screeching in agony as the piercing guy obliged me with five new studs on each ear....yeeeoww! It was freakin fuckin painful...especially the top cartilaginous half of the ear. To make it worse, a little girl walked in a DIDN'T scream when she got hers pierced (I had begged for a break). <br /><br />Heaven knows how I drove back home WITH the helmet on and a lingering anxiety over how hubby would react (it was nothing big, just the usual wat-the-f*** expression and some remarks that implied I was crazy). The pain was kinda spiritual stuff coz I've heard of people who inflict pain upon themselves to release pent up emotions. I didn't have any pent up stuff to boot but yeah, it reminded me of how physically enduring and mentally strong I was because I didn't give up midway. Right now, I'm just pumping in antibiotics and painkillers, hoping for the piercings to heal soon so that I can put on some nice silver rings and wear my hair up to flaunt 'em off!Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-69494144309742543942009-01-06T10:38:00.000+05:302009-01-06T10:43:53.131+05:30My Quest For DivinityWho is God? An illusion? A fragment of imagination? An element? A “He” or a “She”? Or an “It”? A human being’s quest for divinity probably dates back to the specie’s very existence. I looked for God all over for years- in prayers, temples, churches, mosques and gurudwaras. Just when I was beginning to border on atheism, I saw “Him” basking in the sun with the walruses. God was all around when I stood on the deck of a ship in the midst of an endless ocean and when I trecked through the mountain air impregnated with the fresh fragrance of pine. What could be more divine than a dark, juicy chocolate pastry or a plate of fiery chaat?Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-72923513626666355962009-01-06T10:36:00.000+05:302009-01-06T10:37:52.484+05:30The Worst Gift Ever...If someone were to ask me “What is the worst gift that you have ever received?”, I would have to say “Flowers”. Ironically, bouquets are what most of us receive on most occasions. Yeah, so the thought does count but the idea of gifting a dead (or dying) thing to a loved one is purely beyond me – as are damsels who squeal with delight when their beau turns up at the door hiding behind a bunch of decomposing blooms. Why not gift a chicken head instead? All right, so it may not be as “nice smelling” as a bouquet but how nice do bouquets smell anyway. Orchids impregnated with blue dye, genetically messed up lilies, bland roses – how pretentious can you get? I would rather appreciate a potted cactus over a pretty flower plucked away from its umbilical cord only to be smothered under a humid, noisy plastic sheet.<br />What’s more, we even offer decaying stuff to our Gods! I can’t help but sigh when people turn up at my door with bright smiles and limp flowers. The best (and appropriate) option is to accept them graciously and feed them to a hungry herbivore. Most cows and goats are happy to snack on bloomers. However, inked orchids must go straight to the bin if you don’t want to poison an unassuming animal. <br />I would dump a boyfriend (even a husband) if he ever tried to surprise me with a bouquet. As a matter of fact, my husband made it to the altar because he never gifted me flowers.Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-21373584583525138862008-12-24T09:08:00.009+05:302015-05-01T10:56:28.503+05:30Things To Do Before I Die....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I opened my eyes this morning and realized that I had no set goals in life (well it was all that dramatic). Of course I have short-term goals like finish the editing work on an academic book, get a new pair of jeans, meet deadlines, feed my tortoises, water the plants etc. But come to think of it, where do I see myself say, 50 years from now (not in heaven I hope!). There is so much to be done and life is so short- time is slipping away with every passing second. I gotta make a list before Alzheimer takes over me (I include a lot of curcumin in my diet by the way, but why take chances!). Here goes nothing....(in no particular order)<br />
<br />
1. Color my hair purple (check)<br />
2. Get dreadlocks...keep them for a while and then shave off my head<br />
3. Get a tattoo on a bald head<br />
<br />
Before you pass judgmental comments about me being obsessed with my hair, let me tell you that I'm just moving in an up-to-down order.And no...There's a lot more to me than haircolor and hairstyles, as you shall soon realize.<br />
<br />
4. Get a Phd degree in Linguistics (see, I told you)<br />
5. NOT have kids (fail)<br />
6. Get a galloping horse tattooed on my ankle (there I go again)<br />
7. Get an award - for anything (check).<br />
8. Keep a pet hamster, a pig, a chimpanzee and an army of dogs<br />
9. Spend my senile days in a tranquil treehouse and not in a boring flat/colony.<br />
10. Backpack through South America<br />
11. Drive down through South East Asia from India.<br />
12. Learn Kathak.....professionally<br />
13. Set up an animal shelter<br />
14. Work as a wildlife conservationist for a while<br />
15. Get my book published before I turn 30 (*panics*)<br />
16. Learn to solve simple math problems (check) <br />
17. Backpack through Australia and New Zealand<br />
18. Travel to every corner of India<br />
19. Dance in a Bollywood movie...you know, one of those "extras"<br />
20. Buy a house (an eco-friendly cottage by a lake or some water body, preferably with a green belt around it) Tall order?<br />
21. Loose 10 kgs from my bum (sigh!)<br />
22. Bungee jump, para glide, snorkel and the works<br />
23. Learn to handle poisonous snakes (A know of a guy in Rajasthan who can help me with this)<br />
24. Learn some form of martial arts<br />
25. Never work in a 9-5 job and NEVER work "under" somebody (check)<br />
26. Write a memoir based on the life of an army wife (i need to give this a lot more time....and thought)<br />
27. Spend a few days alone, disconnected from the world. Preferably forever.<br />
28. Live like a hippie (that's actually the broader aim)<br />
29. Do a PG in Journalism (drop)<br />
30.Publish a volume of poetry (not keen anymore).<br />
31. Swim with sharks and/or dolphins (preferably dolphins...for obvious reasons) - check. Sharks it was!<br />
32. Bathe with buffaloes in a dirty, mucky pond...i feel so jealous when I see them going at it alone.<br />
33. Grow my nails atleast once and use nail paint (its tougher than you think)<br />
34. Get myself a digital SLR camera (check)<br />
35. Spend all my earning (and Rishabh's too) in traveling.<br />
36. Fuck all conventions, stereotypes, protocols, rules and everything that takes the life out of LIFE.<br />
37. Never let go of family and friends who matter.<br />
38. Plant atleast 1000 trees in my lifetime (I'm not counting...)(check)<br />
39. Donate all my organs (check..)<br />
40. Take workshops for writers<br />
41. Bully a kid when it's mom is not looking....till it bawls for help (check....many times over ;))<br />
42. See my name in a byline (check)<br />
43. Do something really, really controversial.<br />
44. Make my own wine (check)<br />
45. Learn a bit of HTML...just enough to be able to manage my website independently.<br />
46. Spend a few months living with tribals in Africa and soak in their culture.<br />
47. Become a wandering spirit after I'm dead and haunt a beach (castles are passe) <br />
48. Achieve nirvana (after the haunting of course)<br />
49. Find out who I was in my past life.<br />
50. Have an encounter with a ghost/supernatural something. (check. sorry I asked for it...wasn't pleasant at all)<br />
That's all I can think of for now...I'll add more later. (Sorry for going overboard with parenthetical remark - can't help it coz I totally love them. The bracket closes here..)<br />
<br />
Until Next Time...</div>
Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-5403626915054528482008-12-02T09:29:00.004+05:302008-12-02T10:21:27.642+05:30Suicidal Comments by Indian Politicians"True colors always shine out in moments of acute crisis" and our politicians have just proved the credibility of the statement in more ways that one. Their suicidal statements ( which can or rather, SHOULD put an end to their career) have only served to fuel the fire within every Indian. A few examples:<br /><br />R.R.Patil: "Itna Bada Shehar Hai...ek-aad haadsa to ho hi jaata hai. They planned to kill 5000 people. We have minimized the damage to a large extent". he then goes on to resign on "moral grounds" (read: the resignation was shuved up his @$$) <br /><br />Vilas Rao Deshmukh: Tags along son Ritesh Deshmukh and film maker Ram Gopal Verma for a guided tour to the Taj Mahal Hotel and then claims: "I offered to resign" (Sure darling, we believe you).<br /><br />V.S. Achutanandan (sorry for being crass, but the first four alphabets of his surname pretty much sum up what he's all about): "Not even a dog would have entered his (Maj.Unnikrishnan's) house" on being turned back by the martyr's father.( He owes an apology to Indian canines and Indians in general). <br /><br />Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi: "Just because a few people with lipstick and powder on their faces or suits and ties come out on the road to protest against politicians, doesn't mean that they are the voice of India." (is he jealous of people who are better dressed than him?)<br /><br />Thats sadly the face of Indian politics- sloppy, callous, stinking and shameful. Judging by their attitude, it is pretty evident that their concerns are exclusively channeled towards the public outrage against politicians. The country and the people still don't feature on their list of priorities. And these are the guys who India chose to elect. <br /><br />Can we have young, dynamic, educated and hot-blooded leaders instead of these invalid, impotent bastards? These guys can't speak for nuts even if their lives depended on it. The Pak Foreign Minister carried himself with great dignity and spontaneity (whether he meant all of that is another debatable issue) while our chaps fumbled, stumbled and stammered on national television. Where are we heading?Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-11694104019869910852008-11-30T00:03:00.009+05:302008-11-30T00:18:30.980+05:30The Power of Voting and Un-VotingA few minutes ago, I received a forwarded mail about the public's power to "un-vote" a political party. I am not sure how far this idea will go in bringing about the much needed political and social revolution, I would still like to quote the mail here so that people other than those on my immediate contact list get to read it too. Here goes:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"Kindly re-think before you vote this time, do our politicians really give us good and secured life, if you feel not then kindly forward<br />this mail to all you feel can join the campaign not to vote corrupt<br />politicians. ITS THE TIME NOW....<br /><br /><a href="http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/cer1.htm">http://lawmin.nic.in/ld/subord/cer1.htm</a><br /><br />Read about the Section 49-O over to that link. Thats a government link.<br /><br />as far as that link says, here is the theme of it.<br />Did you know that there is a system in our constitution, as per the<br />1969 act, in section "49-O" that a person can go to the polling booth,<br />confirm his identity, get his finger marked and convey the presiding<br />election officer that he doesn't want to vote anyone!<br /><br />Yes such a feature is available, but obviously these seemingly<br />notorious leaders have never disclosed it. This is called "49-O".<br /><br />Why should you go and say "I VOTE NOBODY"... because, in a ward, if a<br />candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has<br />received "49-O" votes more than 123, then that polling will be<br />canceled and will have to be re-polled. Not only that, but the<br />candidature of the contestants will be removed and they cannot contest<br />the re-polling, since people had already expressed their decision on<br />them. This would bring fear into parties and hence look for genuine<br />candidates for their parties for election. This would change the way,<br />of our whole political system... it is seemingly surprising why the<br />election commission has not revealed such a feature to the public....<br /><br />Please spread this news to as many as you know... Seems to be a<br />wonderful weapon against corrupt parties in India... show your power,<br />expressing your desire not to vote for anybody, is even more powerful<br />than voting... so don't miss your chance. So either vote, or vote not<br />to vote (vote 49-O) and pass this info on...<br /><br />The people of India , can really use this power to save our nation.<br />Use your voting right for a better INDIA."</span>Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-57473714836883590502008-11-29T10:22:00.008+05:302008-11-29T13:11:02.598+05:30Mumbai Terror Attacks: Media and The PeopleThe Mumbai carnage is nearing a catharsis but I'm still feeling sick in the stomach. The security forces have done the country proud but it would probably not be accurate to say that we have "won" in the true sense. The immense loss of life and property has left every Indian citizen emotionally scarred, skeptic and enraged- that pretty much serves the purpose of a terrorist attack. I can visualize terror honchos munching popcorn in front of their television sets and laughing their asses off at our helplessness and panic. Our "breaking news" thirsty attitude only serves to entertain them further.<br /><br />The Indian media may have done a great job at covering and reporting the incidents but like many other media critics, I too feel that that should have exercised more restraint. I mean, what's with the footage of commandos landing from helicopters on rooftops on national television and the step-by-step operational and strategic details of the security forces being leaked out at the most sensitive hour? Might as well call up the wrong-doers and tell them "Ok guys, here's how we are going to attack you. Plan accordingly". These are not your typical filmy militant in pathan-suit who is unshaven, illiterate and supposedly misguided- these are educated young men in Versace tees and blackberries who very well know what they are up to!These are guys who shop with us in malls, spend their weekends in pubs like we do and are as tech savvy (if not more) as we are. If they can plan their attacks months in advance, is'nt it a given that they would have established a fool-proof communication network as well? With the kind of options that technology offers today, it hardly helps to cut out the cable networks. However, the media realized this but not before complicating the situation by a few degrees.<br /><br />I really admire journos like Barkha Dutt but her insensitive questions to rescued victims like "What do you feel about the whole situation" really put me off and then she went yak-yak about nothing in a voice that compelled me to switch channels. The guy was held hostage for over 48 hours for heaven's sake. Give him a break! Further. when they run out of fresh "breaking news", they rope in stupid celebs with their inconsequential opinions to fill up the airtime. If men in uniform can sacrifice all they have, channels can surely afford to sacrifice their TRP's. <br /><br />Indian journos are one of the most powerful forces in the country- they got to act more responsibly and maturely. After all, in times like these, they are the only ones who can keep the country held together. They are the ones who can spark up a revolution and bring about change. They are the ones who can effectively deliver a message and make India more aware. Get over the sensational and scandalous stuff guys, and get down to business! Isn't that what real journalism is all about? Don't just entertain, inspire! I quite liked the Arnav/Arnab Goswami abstained from dramatizing the incidents and got some relavent perspectives from international authorities but one wishes he would do away with his habit of butting in and allow the guests to speak. He was right in saying that gory details of the carnage only add to the panic and negative emotions among citizens.<br /><br />Moreover, I fail to understand what people mean when they "condemn" the act of terrorism. Dude, do you have a choice? Politicians and authorities using weak words like "action will be taken", "condemnation", "investigations are still on" etc do nothing to assure the average citizen. Terrorists are not ordinary thieves or murderers- they are global pests and they should be treated like one would treat a plague epidemic. There's absolutely no room for mercy or prolonged trials!<br /><br />The nightmare might be over but it should not be left behind. India should not "move on" but fight back with a vengeance. We have moved on for too long now- its time to kick some serious ass and strike before our blood cools down and we return back to a mundane existence. This is not the first time that our economy, democracy, heritage and people have been threatened. I sincerely hope that the people join hands to take "India Burning" to "India Shining" once again. Kudos to the NSG jawan who said "Nothing is too difficult for us"- the rest of the country should take it from here.Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-50809672785890377902008-11-27T15:53:00.004+05:302008-11-27T16:16:28.622+05:30Terrorists Can Be Put to Good Use.....I'm Serious!Terror strikes Mumbai and my blood is boiling again. Why do we let these bastards do this to our country? They say every human being is born with a purpose and has a role in the universe. What purpose are these terrorists born for? Well, I'm sure they can be put to good use and contribute positively to the global society. <br /><br />Here's how the government can work towards rehabilitating and integrating anti-national elements into the society:<br /><br />They can be painted in bright colors and made into dartboards- this will save trees and kids can have more fun targeting a live, moving object.<br /><br />They can be put up in fairs in place of balloons and people can shoot them(with real guns of course to win soaps/combs/teddy bears. A bonus prize for anyone who manages to aim between the eyes.<br /><br />They could be a good source of fresh, healthy and functional organs for the millions of suffering patients.<br /><br />Post organ-extraction, their bodies could be shoved into a grinder and made into mulch for the manufacture of organic manure and fed to the plants. <br /><br />They can be employed by the military to train soldiers in shooting and combat operations - it is no fun shooting and kicking an inanimate sandbag.<br /><br />During bird flu and anthrax epidemics, they could be used to feed zoo animals (or even as a treat for behaving nicely).<br /><br />They could be tranquilized and used as a temporary pavement when Mumbai roads are flooded and pedestrians have no place to walk.<br /><br /><br />See, the bastards are not a waste of space after all!Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-90785784994818873212008-10-29T09:52:00.003+05:302008-10-29T10:14:43.871+05:30The Difference Between Art and ScienceAt a painful party the other day ( it was vaguely 2 am, I guess), someone popped a random question at the dinner table- "What is the difference between Art and Science"? The "asker" was an honorable senior officer of the Indian Army and the "askees" were a group of chattering young ladies. He did get some pretty interesting replies like "Arts is more like History, Political Science, Literature etc. while Science has Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Maths" (duh!). My supposedly "intellectual" take on the subject did not go all waste (despite my punch drunk state and slurred speech)- I can safely vouch for that because the answer sparked off an animated discussion which ultimately turned out to be the highlight of the painful party (at least for me).<br /><br />Contrary to popular belief, a couple of drinks can really jump-start dormant gray cells ( that doze off all over again once the hangover wears out).Here goes my alcohol-induced philosophy:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">"Science is an acknowledgment of the known and expansion of physicality while Art is an interpretation of existence and expansion of the soul- beyond the apparent and the obvious"</span>. ( Ok, now don't you stare at me like that and DON'T even ask me where on earth did that come from). And yes, its original- in case you are wondering.Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-19680492826388808862008-10-03T19:07:00.010+05:302008-11-25T21:19:58.239+05:30Significance of The Phoenix Tattoo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75HPKFCQDk4AxCXXkdx5LZAvmoryn4m5oHeSPcfNvp797PHAqM7RRrYNR2xZ0TS4Hvg0e6sWuk5GLmaBsaFbc_OH2TcQHclwBDWJeqvWFVxKRiaQVySLx0bYCl73nI8rOJ-LShzWopzE/s1600-h/DSCN2965.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75HPKFCQDk4AxCXXkdx5LZAvmoryn4m5oHeSPcfNvp797PHAqM7RRrYNR2xZ0TS4Hvg0e6sWuk5GLmaBsaFbc_OH2TcQHclwBDWJeqvWFVxKRiaQVySLx0bYCl73nI8rOJ-LShzWopzE/s320/DSCN2965.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262446317294078050" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZu6_rDIv8f61zqwgcPEU9zmXtY4yVOlD9x3jMf2q1m9hzrxlhyhAMmi9U-RxMgXTdlXLFUPGqARd-1aX0acWBb1-LPlwpyQwX-_Cz4rU2-0iJ1ExA178_9kjXo1xJsLgZdGehib_ZJrc/s1600-h/DSCN3009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZu6_rDIv8f61zqwgcPEU9zmXtY4yVOlD9x3jMf2q1m9hzrxlhyhAMmi9U-RxMgXTdlXLFUPGqARd-1aX0acWBb1-LPlwpyQwX-_Cz4rU2-0iJ1ExA178_9kjXo1xJsLgZdGehib_ZJrc/s320/DSCN3009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5262443150434532770" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Ever since I got a Phoenix tattooed on my back, people have been asking me- Why a Phoenix? I mean, its not a common, fashionable motif - like say, a butterfly, stars or Chinese and tribal symbols. Not surprisingly, I had a tough time finding one that effectively represented my being. After two long years of wait ( I just couldn't find an artist who understood my requirement), I finally got it done from Al's Tattoo and Body Piercing Studio in Bandra, Mumbai. <br /><br />For those who may be unaware, the Phoenix is a mythological bird that burns itself and emerges all over again from its own ashes.<br />The Phoenix has varied references in Arabian, Greek, Roman, and Oriental mythology. Some believe it to represent the sun- bursting into flames at sunset and being reborn at the crack of dawn. It also symbolizes rebirth and re-incarnation ( or life's victory over death- whichever way you prefer to put it). The Phoenix is also believed self-cremate itself in a nest of exotic and aromatic herbs when it is injured, tired or weak. In Oriental mythology, this bird with a dazzling plumage represents balance (yin and yang) and harmony.<br /><br />To me however, the Phoenix means a lot more than a mythological creature. I identify with many aspects of the Phoenix and use the motif as a representation of my soul.<br /><br />- The "emerging" Phoenix (as opposed to the burning one) symbolizes strength and invincibility in the face of adversity. It will constantly remind me to battle all odds and emerge victorious.<br /><br />- The burning and resurrection of the Phoenix teaches me to erase everything that is unpleasant from my memory and begin each day as a fresh, new life with all its sparkle and splendor.<br /><br />- The Phoenix is an unconventional creature- it does not adhere to the laws of life and death. In a way, it mirrors the overpowering rebellious streak in me and gives me the strength to go "against the flow" and live life on my terms.<br /><br />- Of course, anything that symbolizes me has to have wings that stand for freedom, adventure, independence and a footloose character.<br /><br />- The bright colors of the feathers represent positivity, optimism and a love for natural beauty.<br /><br />I will add more to this as I connect other threads of my existence to the Phoenix.Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-82518894127572743682008-10-03T18:45:00.004+05:302008-10-03T19:07:16.104+05:30Crows in The City That Never Sleeps...The Mumbai fever seems to have caught on with the city's crows as well. Nowhere else in India have I seen crows cawing away through the night and even scourging for food when they should be ideally tucked away in their tacky nests. Sure enough, competition is fierce and only the fittest will survive- which is probably why these Mumbai birds are up and about at night while their small-town counterparts hit the bed in rest of the country. I wonder if they work in shifts...<br /><br />The other day during a late-night drive through the city, I was rather taken to find these irksome birds having a noisy party by the garbage can at two in the morning- a ridiculous hour for most city-dwelling birdies. They reminded me of crows in Udhampur who returned religiously to their arboreal abodes as soon as the sun descended down the horizon. Have birds in bustling metros adopted the same fast-paced lifestyle and evolved themselves accordingly or is it just my imagination? For all I know, crows are not nocturnal by nature.Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-53319257741262925222008-09-12T10:35:00.002+05:302008-09-12T10:53:58.584+05:30Beach Holiday- Sunburn-Now What?Just in case you couldn’t resist the desire to prance along the beaches “one beautiful summer afternoon”, here’s what to do when you come back looking (and feeling) like a fried peanut. Do not panic, we all forget to slather sunscreen and wear a hat sometimes! Look no further than your kitchen cabinet for immediate relief from the nastiest of sunburns.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize</span><br /> <br />The importance of this cannot be emphasized enough and has to be given top priority. Skip your favorite fancy lotions (they are loaded with fragrances and synthetic ingredients) that can irritate sun-burnt skin further. Choose from natural, organic stuff like raw milk or Aloe Vera extract. They work like a magic wand and this, I speak from personal experience. Alternatively, use a basic moisturizer and pop open a Vitamin E capsule to fortify it.<br /> <br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Black Tea</span><br /><br />No ladies, we are not talking about a tea party here! Make a diluted version and pour it into an ice-tray. Now that you have a respectable stock of iced-tea cubes, you can rub one over your face and body every few hours. Anything cool would obviously feel blissful over sun- burnt skin. The anti-oxidants in the tea would give a push to the healing process. You could also pour a chilled concoction all over as the final rinse after a shower.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Fruits and Veggies</span><br /><br />Soothe parched, sensitive and leathery skin with papayas, tomatoes, potatoes, cucumbers and any other “cool” vegetable or fruit that you may have. No citrus stuff please! Either rub a slice over affected areas or just leave them on as a pureed face pack. These darlings are packed with nutrients and minerals that revitalize the skin and speed up the regeneration process. Chuck the science behind it and wallow in the mess. As long as it does the job, who cares!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Do Not’s</span><br /><br />As much as you would like to choose the fast track to recovery, lay your hands off scrubs, bleaches and make-up for a while. If you ignore this piece of advice, your skin will scream back at you for a reminder!Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-57120655554863898652008-09-04T12:20:00.001+05:302008-09-04T12:21:48.714+05:30How Do You Like Your Leftovers?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggt6g4djFW3rAF0n6-niXaIIhc0w_knjzw8ZzuK9KksMdUd-l-ZuDfehQVaC0f294rtTe9wsE0J-2bXLFjNpZAicoLmY5APhNL4Kyab7j5WJwujpSvc-aZnNxBk_RRB58E7xENL-M_u68/s1600-h/leftovers_7422.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggt6g4djFW3rAF0n6-niXaIIhc0w_knjzw8ZzuK9KksMdUd-l-ZuDfehQVaC0f294rtTe9wsE0J-2bXLFjNpZAicoLmY5APhNL4Kyab7j5WJwujpSvc-aZnNxBk_RRB58E7xENL-M_u68/s320/leftovers_7422.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242055205367413522" /></a><br />‘Some like it hot<br />Some like it cold.<br />Some like it in the pot,<br />Nine days old!’<br /><br />It’s not surprising that the silly sounding nursery rhyme from yesterday bears the universal truth about food and foodies. Are you the type who likes their meals freshly cooked, piping hot and neatly laid out on the table or are you amongst those who would just grab a bite from the refrigerator and have it for lunch on the couch.<br /><br />Different people have different food preferences. While some people would squirm and turn up their noses on yesterday’s dinner, others would think it rather wise to cook up the entire week’s meals on a Sunday! However, even the latter type has two subcategories. There are people who ‘brighten’ up leftovers by reheating, adding spices or extra ingredients or just eating them in a different form, for example, having last day’s veggies in a toasted sandwich or making them into a roll and shredding leftover chicken to be used as a pizza topping. Many others are not willing to take the trouble and prefer to raid the fridge and gobble up bits and pieced straight off the racks! They do not seem to mind a leathery tortilla or a near frozen sizzler.<br /><br />Like they say- it takes all kinds to make the world! Even members of the same family and siblings may have contrasting food habits, which means it has nothing to do with upbringing or training. Rather, it is purely a matter of individual tastes. So, which category do you belong to?Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-16577448254909232222008-09-04T12:16:00.001+05:302008-09-04T12:19:17.097+05:30The Truth About Health Foods<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihl0KF6lovI_pOQmGwE93uliOYSJlDISQxkcd0KlBl4nn_6vHWNMoRjyerrwXXsG_0GQGNjMXSxoZEBvIXm8B1OY_6WTEagGX_y9Sgq6xHKz9fWH8ZWm2Y6-5vSFOBNAoVIO8oxJLngGc/s1600-h/health-food_7422.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihl0KF6lovI_pOQmGwE93uliOYSJlDISQxkcd0KlBl4nn_6vHWNMoRjyerrwXXsG_0GQGNjMXSxoZEBvIXm8B1OY_6WTEagGX_y9Sgq6xHKz9fWH8ZWm2Y6-5vSFOBNAoVIO8oxJLngGc/s320/health-food_7422.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242054460577414370" /></a><br /><br />Next time you sift the supermarket for ‘100% natural’ or ‘preservative free’ foods, be on a high alert. A recent study conducted by Sense About Science, a charitable trust dedicated to public awareness has unraveled that most claims laid by ‘health food’ brands are a hoax and that they use these strategies only to boost up their sales.<br /><br />Also, the common notion that naturally derived substances are less harmful than the synthetically produced ones has no truth in it. Many chemicals that are used in processed food are also found in fresh, organic food so the intake pretty much remains the same. Many food products bear flashy labels like ‘enriched with vitamin so-and-so’ and ‘fortified’. Although the label may be true, there is no evidence that an extra dose of nutrients would do us any more good. The human body is programmed to derive all the nutrition it needs from the food we ingest. Anything extra is just going to be disposed off by our kidneys because unlike carbohydrates, fats and proteins, vitamins cannot be stored in the body. Rather, the body needs a measured and constant supply of these nutrients.<br /><br />Consumers today are growing increasingly health conscious owing to the epidemic of life-style diseases and do not hesitate to spend an extra buck or two for a ‘healthier version’ of food. Most companies make use of the consumer’s vulnerability and lure the layman by laying a ’scientific trap’. An unknowing customer is easily drawn to a food packet which has elaborate nutritional details and data printed on it. The fact however is, that these food products are as good or as bad as any other.Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-43247423101481706482008-08-26T18:47:00.001+05:302008-08-26T18:47:52.439+05:30Why Do People Watch Porn?Guys watch it for cheap thrills and to let out the ‘extra stuff’. Girls watch it out of curiosity and wonder what the porn star got that she hasn’t got. Kids watch it because it is a forbidden fruit and it’s very human to rebel! Couples watch it to learn some new tricks and get some zing back into their lives (which I think is by far the most sensible use of it!)<br /><br />Most people justify themselves by saying that it is the sole form of sex education available to them. Where else, apart from boring biology textbooks, would they get to learn about the male and female anatomy in so much detail and know how babies are born! Kids wonder as to why are two grown up, naked people trying to strike funny poses and deriving fun out of it? Now, this is the first step into trouble-land. Curiosity leads kids into getting their questions answered from all the wrong sources and means possible because to them pornography seems to be the best or rather the only answer!<br /><br />Experimenting with new things is not bad and pornography is not an exception. But since it can distort value systems in young minds and give unrealistic impressions about the act of sex and human bodies with all those silicon implants and testosteron pumped bodies, it certainly helps to give them a strong background knowledge at an age when their brains haven’t lost their elasticity so that they don’t have trouble telling right from wrong.<br /><br />Watching or reading porn is not sinful but a person should know what he/she is in for and what it means. The purpose of it should not extend beyond occasional entertainment. It should not become a means to satiate curiosity about sex.<br /><br />There is one missing element on the road between a person and pornography and that is COMPREHENSIVE SEX EDUCATION (by anyone who can deliver it...that means us as well!)Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-25934612033624143392008-08-26T18:45:00.000+05:302008-08-26T18:46:27.722+05:30Depression: A Biochemical ProcessWith depression making rounds in the society in a grand manner, scientists may be on the verge of discovering a bio-chemical indicator for the assessment of depression. A condition which hitherto was diagnosed solely on the subjective opinion of a practitioner may now have a ‘lab test’ to determine the severity of the condition as well as the effect of different treatments and therapies on a particular patient.<br /><br />Scientists at the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program at the University of Illinois suggest that depression involves a bio-chemical process wherein the brain releases specific substances which can be detected by laboratory tests. The researchers conducted a post–mortem study of depressed people who committed suicide and compared their findings to that of normal people. They established that a certain protein called Gs alpha which relays information between the brain cells and the neuro-transmitters seemed to have been less effective in depressive people.<br /><br />One of the main concerns faced by psychiatrists while treating a patient with anti-depressants is the unpredictability of the drug’s effect. Rasenick and his team are hopeful that this proposed technique would significantly step up the efficacy and quality of management of depressive disorders.Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7843671215641293497.post-79721694946506549412008-08-26T18:40:00.001+05:302008-08-26T18:45:39.114+05:30Bridging The Generation GapThe very existence of a “generation” is dependant on its comparison with the one before and after it – which makes difference between generations inevitable and rather necessary for the sake of definition. Arranged in chronological order, today’s society is an amalgam of four generations- baby boomers, Gen X, the MTV Generation and Gen Y. Clashes in viewpoints (social, political, religious and moral), differences in musical and sartorial tastes, norms of acceptable behavior and priorities therefore is not surprising. This phenomenon is what we commonly refer to as a “generation gap”. This “gap” stems from the inability of the young and the old to understand and identify with each other. Although some people may rubbish the whole concept and label it passé, the impact of generational differences are evident is practically every sphere of life; including family, education, career, marriage and retirement plans. Each generation works in its own distinct pattern and strives to be as different as possible from the one preceding them.<br /><br />A typical conversation between a parent and teenager is bound to be interspersed with phrases like “In our days….”; “are you actually going to wear that outfit”; “things are different now”; “give me a break ma” and “I need my space”. While the older generation always sees the younger one as inexperienced and irrational, the younger lot thinks they are old-fashioned and not at all “moving with the times”. Neither of them is wrong in their assumptions- it is just that the older generation refuses to accept that their children have moved out of the cradle and need to make their own decisions. The younger generation on the other hand, fails to realize that their parents mean well and expect them to learn from experience and mistakes rather than committing them on their own. For most teenagers, parents are always the dictator who cannot bear to see them happy. Many parents often find themselves entirely phased out as they make futile attempts to communicate and understand their children- only to end up wishing they had never grown up! The conflict is brought out beautifully in Joyce Carol’s “Where are you going, Where have you been? When Connie’s mother nags her: “Why don’t you keep your room clean like your sister? How’ve you got your hair fixed—what the hell stinks? Hair spray? You don’t see your sister using that junk.” Connie “wished her mother was dead and she herself was dead and it was all over”. “She makes me want to throw up sometimes,” she complains. The first glimpse of generation gap usually surfaces during the teenage years and this is often only the beginning.<br /><br />Conflicts between parents and children often arise out of parent’s irrational expectations out of their child as they expect the latter to achieve what they desired to but could not. Young adults are constantly subjected to pressure from parents urging them to follow a conventional career path without acknowledging their aptitude and potentials. A teenagers desire to establish his own worth in a chosen field is overlooked and often clouded by parental aspirations for them. As Bruno Bettelheim aptly puts it: “Youths come to grief nowadays because of their parent’s insistence that the former justify themselves as parents rather than because of any revived oedipal desires for their mothers or fathers”. A child may succumb to pressure and achieve what a parent desires of him but that does not necessarily amount to internal happiness and emotional well-being of the child. In “The Setting Sun and the Rolling World” by Charles Mungoshi , Nhamo thinks that his father has “given him nothing and all”- something which reflects many a teenager’s opinions as they pine for freedom of decision along with the basic facilities provided to them. The older generation sometimes fail to realize that even though there children are dependant on them for survival, they are also old enough to have opinions and aspirations of there own. It is only when the old generation refuses to step back in order to make for new ideas and culture; does generation conflicts arise.<br /><br />Pattern of education has also undergone a sea change with a shift in focuses and priorities. “Whilst today’s education system encourages individuality, and expression of opinion, the education system of the 40s and 50s put a firm emphasis on discipline and uniformity” (BBC). Education now had transcended beyond bookish knowledge and lays more emphasis on over-all character development. Mediums like internet and tele-education were practically unheard of in the 50’s and 60’s and hence the Boomers had only their books and a few audio-visual sources to rely upon. The newer generation was encouraged to analyze and interpret books based on their own sensibilities as opposed to memorizing and reproducing text which was a common mode of learning until a few years ago. This change is now reflected in the difference in approach of the two generations in problem-solving and teaching methods. Boomers also find it difficult to see sense in recent trends like blogging and networking for friends and dating. They would rather spend money on an international call than try to endlessly chat over the internet for free just because they were not exposed to such concepts in their formative years.<br /><br />Even in the professional arena, Boomers are known as the more “subtle” generation and X-ers and Y-ers are subjected to continuous scrutiny regarding the clothes they wear, the language they use and the time they put into their work. Often, the young employee’s expression of self though tattoos, radical fashion and body piercing is met with resentment from the Boomer leading to workplace conflicts. The latter views such fashion as “offensive”, “un-professional” and even “vulgar”. They tend to emphasize more upon the young worker’s personal attributes that his/her professional credibility. According to Dan Kadlec- co-author of The Power Years, a guide for boomers- “Tensions typically stem from perceptions of loyalty and respect - as in, we think the kids don’t have any”. Along years the work pattern has also undergone a drastic transformation. The generation of Boomers has seen extreme struggle and job scarcity which is not the case with the younger lot. As a result, the latter are more willing to take risks in their careers, change jobs and switch professions – all of which was unthinkable of in the 70’s and 80’s. While a Boomer would not think much of working past office hours and even on weekends, an X-er has stringent rules about personal and professional time and does not allow one to infringe upon the other .nevertheless; they do not compromise on quality and efficiency by being more focused. Also, thirty-something’s are accustomed to following their job blindly without raising an eye-brow to the instructions. They feel irked and offended when a twenty-something questions their authority and demands explanations and view this as a mark of disrespect- even when it may simply stem from curiosity and a need to establish a logic in implementing instructions. The older generation still prefers to communicate via the old fashioned and formal means like meetings and letters and the new generation considers it perfectly acceptable to convey a professional message via a short e-mail or text message. According to the Boomers the X-ers and Y-ers lack serious work ethic whereas the latter feel that the former refuse to embrace chance which is essential for progression.<br /><br />The generation of Boomers witnessed the trend of young adults moving out of their parental homes around the age of eighteen in pursuit of education or jobs and to establish an identity and family of their own. According to Marcia Mogelonsky “When a college education became the norm for a large share of American women and men, the deferral of adulthood began. People got married later, had children later, bought homes later, and started careers later”. Most people now prefer to live with their parents in order to save money for other luxuries without feeling ashamed. By doing this they also enjoy the freedom of making choices and exploring options without being burdened with the responsibility of home and family. In her article titled “The Rocky Road to Adulthood”, Marcia Mogelonsky quotes psychologist Ross E. Goldstein: “It may be time to redefine the meaning of being `grown-up.’ If we continue to apply the same standards used to identify the transition from childhood to adulthood among baby boomers, we may discover that Generation X will never grow up”. The boundary between adolescence and adulthood is fast fading as people as meeting the requirements for adulthood like education, job and family relatively late in life.<br /><br />According to Carole Bonnet women are increasingly making their presence felt in all professional fields and the incidence of career breaks among women are gradually decreasing. In the coming generations, the gap between the retirement ages for men and women is expected to close in. in many countries the new generation is striving hard to eradicate gender bias, racism and class discrimination.<br /><br />David Plotz examines the difference between Generation X and Y and feels that Generation Y is a more “cheerful” generation as it marks a significant decrease in social mal-functions like teenage pregnancy, racism, drug abuse, teenage crime and school drop-outs- all of which were rampant in the 80’s and 90’s. After the tumultuous years it comes as a pleasant surprise when teenagers take active interest in spirituality and social causes. In his article titled “The American Teenager”, he says: “the slump of the 90’s has been replaced by eternal boom; the cynical pessimists of Gen X have been replaced by cheery Y’s”. this is probably a consequence of increasing awareness and incorporation of sex- education and psychological counseling as part of the educational curriculum. Plotz also observes that the new generation does not resort to rebellion- rather they believe in “New Earnestness” and “New Familism”. The Y-ers are keener on attending church as opposed to the X-ers who believed in rebelling against any and every thing that they were expected and asked to do.<br /><br />Even after noting the vast generation gap, it would be incorrect to say that two generations have little in common. Although there might be a vast difference between opinions, views and tastes, generations seldom fail to find common ground in order to co-exist in harmony. Minor adjustments and willingness to be open-minded go a long way in bridging the eternal “generation gap”.Shuchi Singhhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00454605275255852452noreply@blogger.com0